You turn to your Gallatin, TN, home’s air conditioning system for relief from the hot and humid summer weather. When your air conditioner cycles, you shouldn’t smell anything. If you detect one of these three weird odors coming from your air conditioner, it’s a good idea to call for a prompt AC repair.
Smoke
If you notice a smoky smell coming from your air conditioning system, you’ve got a problem. The motor could be overheating, or there could be debris on the coils. Dust on the housing could also be burning, causing a faint smoky odor. A short in the motor, fan or electric control board could also produce a smoky or gun powder type of smell. All of these problems require professional attention.
Biological Growth
Over time, biological growth builds up in your air conditioner’s condensate line, explains the Department of Energy. During a cooling cycle, you might smell a musty odor in the air caused by the biological growth clogging the drain. Some people describe this odor as smelly socks or dirty feet. It’s caused by the combination of bacteria and biological growth that grow in warm, damp and dark places. Keeping up with regular AC maintenance, which includes cleaning the condensate drain, prevents this odor.
Chemical Odors
Chemical odors, including smells of chloroform or sweet smells, could result from several different air conditioning problems. A refrigerant leak is a common source of chemical smells. If your air conditioner is more than 10 years old, a sweet or chloroform smell could be due to a refrigerant leak. Newer air conditioners use a different chemical refrigerant, R-410-A. This refrigerant smells vaguely of ether. Chemical smells could also come from a failing motor, electrical board or fan.
To learn more about weird odors coming from your air conditioner and what they mean, check out Derryberry’s Heat & Air’s air conditioning repair services, or call us today for additional info.
